How to Format a Cash Flow Statement
Your business is generating revenue. Where is it coming from and where is it going? A properly formatted cash flow statement can help you answer those questions and perhaps shed some light on areas of your business that need more attention. Your cash flow statement is also one of the three generally accepted financial statements used by most businesses.
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Instructions
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1
Open a new spreadsheet and save it with an appropriate name. The first line should be the title, including your company name. Add a line below to show the date range you’ve selected. Leave a blank line and proceed to the next step.
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2
Create the title "Cash Flow from Operations." Below that, add a separate line for each area of operational revenue, or just one line for all sales to customers. Below that, add a separate line for each area of operational expenses. For each line item, put the description in column A and the dollar amount in column B.
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Create the title "Net Cash from Operations." This line should hold the formula that sums all revenue and subtracts all expense line items above it. Put the title "Net Cash from Operations" in column A and the formula in column B.
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4
Create the title "Cash Flow from Investments." Below that, add a separate line for each area of investment revenue. Below that, add a separate line for each area of investment expenses. For each line item, put the description in column A and the dollar amount in column B.
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5
Create the title "Net Cash from Investments." This line should hold the formula that sums all revenue and subtracts all expense line items above it. Put the title "Net Cash from Investments" in column A and the formula in column B.
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Create the title "Cash Flow from Financing." Below that, add a separate line for each area of financing revenue. Below that, add a separate line for each area of financing expenses. For each line item, put the description in column A and the dollar amount in column B.
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Create the title "Net Cash from Financing." This line should hold the formula that sums all revenue and subtracts all expense line items above it. Put the title "Net Cash from Investments" in column A and the formula in column B.
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Create the title "Total Net Cash Flow." This line should hold the formula that sums the amounts from Net Cash from Operations, Net Cash from Investments and Net Cash from Financing. Put the title "Total Net Cash Flow" in column A and the formula in column B.
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Tips & Warnings
When using computer spreadsheet software, remember to save your work often. This will prevent you from having to start over should you experience technical difficulties.
Customize your cash flow statement to reflect the specific inflows and outflows unique to your company.
Omit line items that don’t apply to your company.
Garbage in, garbage out. Your cash flow statement is only as good as the numbers you use to create it.
Always keep a backup file in case something happens to your original.
